Phoenix Saddles

I was very lucky to be lent a Mondial GP to try by my equine bowen lady who said after much trial and error it was the only treeless she would now put on her horse. I have to say it was fantastic in every way, very very comfy, horse moved beautifully and best of all (call me vain) it looks EXACTLY like a "normal" saddle. I currently have a Barefoot Cheyenne which I love but the Mondial is in a whole other league. If I ever win the lottery I will definitely have one :)
 
interesting thread as i've been looking at the Fhoenix saddles. I do LOVE the look of the mondial saddles, and they do a WH version too...... think that will have to be added to the christmas list :D
 
I really like the look and sound of these saddles, but just have one reservation - in most of the pictures I've seen it *looks* like the rider is perched a long way above the horse's back - can someone enlighten us on how far up you actually are, and what it feels like please?
 
Thats good to know, thanks!
I think I'm going to end up with a Fhoenix or Equinelibrium - hopefully I'll be able to trial them both.
Oh.... and I need to find a horse too!
 
jumping in a Fhoenix

The stirrup bars are further under your leg than in any normal saddle including a dressage saddle. I fell off jumping in it when my horse refused (and i haven't fallen off since changing back to treed)
I think the reason they turn up on ebay ( i sold mine ) is that they work great to build up the muscle on the horse's back, my horse looked much better after 6 months hacking in it but when we started schooling again it was way too squidgy on the seat. It makes it impossible to sit still in canter as you have so much give in the saddle as you meet the horse's back coming up.

I thought the stirrup bar position was wonderful to begin with as i like flatwork but it is too far back (IMO and my trainer's) and makes the lower leg unstable.

I would not recommend them at all for jumping!!
 
I found that I could have had the stirrup bars on the fhoenix back some more!
I always felt like my legs were not far enough underneath me (the gp has stirrup bars 1/2 inch further forward than the dressage), but I have been told that I ride with my stirrups too long by my uni lecturer:eek: I could easily get my stirrups down a few more holes at uni if i wasn't on treed gp saddles.

I also felt that I might be un-stable jumping in my fhoenix, im a wimp when it comes to jumping, but I took a horse I had not jumped before down a 3 foot grid, the horse was flying and I was so secure.
My uni lecturer has been a treeless fan ever since.
 
The stirrup bar position does take some getting used to. But then I find it a bit strange going back to a treed saddle with stirrups further forwards again after riding in a SBS or Fhoenix for a while. Once I was used to the saddle and had replaced the huge knee rolls I thought it was great for jumping in and felt secure even though pony was being a complete and utter muppet. I also find it a bit easier to sit most things, especially bucking, in my SBS (and did in the Fhoenix I had), but not a huge difference compared to a nice treed saddle.
 
FYI, there's a few 'nearly new' Fhoenix saddles on ebay at the mo, they seem to be selling at around £800 - 900. Maybe worth a punt for anyone who's already tried the saddle out and liked it?!
 
newrider.com
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